News

July 2018

The Starlight Parade was a great success again
this year. Thanks to IS Art Hermanson we were
able to pull our float in the parade using the new
Shrine Van. (photos coming in the next Oasis).

We have several parades coming up; Canby
July 4, Newberg July 28, Baker City Aug 4 and
Astoria Aug 11. If anyone would like to join us in
handing out seed packets or riding on the float,
please contact IS Bob Walliker or Rod Hevland.
As always our uniform is white tops and black
bottoms.

The Club has been asked to help feed the East
West football players at the Shrine Center on the
evening of July 27 and the morning of July28.
We’ve also been asked to help to feed the NW
Q association meetings at our Shrine Center on
August 17 and 18. If you would like to help out,
please contact Rod Hevland. These are fund
raisers for the club.

Chief Rabban Todd Weedman has requested
help at the Washington County Fair July 26-
29, the Yamhill County Fair Aug 1-4 and the
Clackamas County Fair Aug 14-18. If you would
like to help out contact Chief Rabban Todd.

Noble Rod Hevland

June 2018

We would love to have a few more Shriners join
us riding the float or better yet walking alongside
and handing out this years seed packets (see to
the right). If you are interested, please contact
our president, Rod Hevland (hevlandro@gmail.com) or at home (503) 649-5764,
Here’s a list of the parades we are participating in this year:

Parade

Date

Requirement

Canby

July 4th

Voluntary

Newberg

July 28th

All Units

Baker City

August 4th

All Units

Astoria

August 11th

All Units**

Albany

November 11th

All Units

2017

Noble Rod Hevland

December 2017

The Hospital Support Club’s annual meeting will again be at Gustav’s in Kaiser on Sunday January 21, 2018. When you make your reservation, please include a check made out to the hospital Support club for your meal. The price hasn’t been set yet, because the menu won’t be set until the middle of December.

A special thanks goes out to our Potentate, Ron Gamble for his support of the club by purchasing the new benches for our float. The benches allow us to store most of our paraphernalia and most importantly provide a safe ride for the parade participants.

We are always looking for Shriners and “friends of Shriners” to join our club. Remember no meetings and no dues, what more could you want? If you are interested, contact our president,

Rod Hevland at; hevlandro@gmail.com, or( 503) 649-5764

Noble Rod Hevland

November 2017

What a great parade season we have had. 10 parades, 12,000 seed packets and lots of one on one contacts. We still have the November 11th Veterans day parade in Albany.

We’ve also done several table top events, and several speaking engagements.

Be sure to put Sunday January 21 on your calendar for our annual get together. It will again be at the Gustav’s in Keizer.

We are always looking for Shriners and “friends of Shriners” to join our club. Remember no meetings and no dues, what more could you want? If you are interested, contact our president, Rod Hevland at; hevlandro@gmail.com, or( 503) 649-5764

Noble Rod Hevland

September 2017

As of August 10th the float now has new storage benches instead of chairs. A special thanks goes to IS Ron Gamble for providing the funds!

Special thanks should go to a few members of our club who have made this another outstanding season for the club. IS Bob Walliker for spending hours on the phone arranging for patients to ride on the float. Noble John Wilde and Lady Barbara

for making sure that we are all hydrated by providing cold water bottles at each parade. Lady Kathy Walliker for making sure we had seeds to distribute. Lady Sherry Hevland for all her paper work. Davene Dietzler-Marihart from the Hospital for providing funds for us to purchase a new banner and the entry fee for the Starlight parade. And most of all for all the members who have participated in the parades and other activities so far this year.

Noble Bob Walliker

August 2017

The Parade season is in full swing and the club has been very busy. We were honored to be assisted by being pulled by the Calliope train in the Starlight parade.

We were pleased to have the West Queen, Rebecca Mobley and West CoCaptian, Jordan Nerski on our float with us.

We also participated in the Sheridan, Tillamook and Canby parades.

If there are any Nobles or “Friends of a Shriner” that would like to join us in our work of promoting the Portland Hospital, feel free to contact President, Rod Hevland. hevlandro@gmailc.com, 503-649-5764.

Noble Rod Hevland

May 2017

Spring has finally sprung by now we hope! During the winter the HSC has been busy speaking to various clubs and organizations about the Hospital. We even had a table at the Bridge to Brew run in down town Portland on April 9th.

We’ve also been planning for this year’s parade season. The theme for this year’s float is borrowed from the Imperial First Ladies theme “the sky’s the limit.” Thanks to the Hospital we were able to order a new banner for the back of our float with the logo on it. They’ve also ordered 15,000 new seed packets for us to share the crowds along the parade routes.

We are hoping to find a couple of Shriners who would be willing to drive the Shrine Center Van to a couple of the parades this season, especially to Baker City and back. All you need to do is give a copy of both sides of you driver’s license to the Shrine Center and your Certificate of Insurance in order for them to put you on temple insurance. If you can help out, please contact our President, Rod Hevland.

Here’s a list of the parades we are planning to attend this year. All Shriners and their family and friends are always welcome to ride or walk with us, just let us know how many of you want to be there.

March 2017

The Hospital Support Club held their second annual wrap up get together at Gustav’s Bier House in Kaiser on January 15th. The 44 folks who attended had a great meal and enjoyed a slide show of last year’s parades and table top events.

We elected new officers for 2017. They are: Rod Hevland, President, IS Bob Walliker, Sec. Treas., John Wilde, First VP and Roger Sellin, Second VP.

The members and guests voted on a list of parades that the club should participate in for the 2017 season. In addition several club members who couldn’t attend the meeting voted by email. See list below.

Remember that our club is open to all Shriners and “Friends of Shriners.” If you know of anyone who would like to join at one of our events, all they need to do is contact one of our officers and show up at the appropriate time

July 2016

It was our honor to have our patient JJ and his mom Dena ride our float at St Helens parade. Local folks and classmates
called out his name, cheering him along the route. What better example of our parade theme “helping children reach their
goals” could there have been?

JJ is still our patient at Shriners.
As a toddler he was victim of shaken baby syndrome by his babysitter (later arrested and convicted in Columbia County). JJ
almost died and had severe injuries. As a detective in Portland, I used to specialize investigating such cases.
His recovery is miraculous.

Over 15 yrs. Shriners has been a part of helping JJ through rehabilitation efforts to "reach his goals" -he has overcome
even other challenges, including bullying.

This past football season his coach made him a special kicker in a final game locally (watch on YouTube).

JJ also just graduated High School.
It is very humbling to witness how Love to the Rescue by a loving parent, his family and Shriners truly make a difference.

Thanks to those who joined in the parade - we look forward to Tillamook Dairy Days parade next Saturday.

Also, thanks to Ron and Kathy Eggers, Jeannie Hermanson (and any others We missed) and Kay Weber and Emily for covering the "Greatful Dad" fun run

JJ Neubaum and Mom

Noble Rod Hevland

July 2016

By the time you read this the Hospital Support Club will be well into the parade season. On June 4th our float pulled
by the Calliope Corp Engine along with the Oriental Band and Nile PDIR participated in the Starlight Parade on a very
hot 99° degree day. We were honored to have our Potentate, IS John Nerski and Nile Queen Sharon Kelly riding on the
float along with several patients and other members of our club. We had a picnic provided by our club’s ladies with
funds from the OB. A great time was had by all.

On June 7 The Rose Festival court toured our Hospital and was guided by at least one of our club members.

We also participated in the St Helens parade on June 18 and the Tillamook parade on June 25.

The Club will be participating in the Troutdale parade on July 23, the Newburg parade on July 30, and Baker
City on August 6th. If you know a patient from our Hospital, or a Noble or a friend of a Shriner that would
like to ride with us, have them contact our Secretary, IS Bob Walliker (bob.walliker at gmail.com)

We are always on the lookout for more members, especially nobles and their families who would like to help us
in promoting the Portland Hospital, if you are interested feel free to contact our president, Rod
Hevland (hevlandro at gmail.com or at home (503) 649-5764.

Noble Rod Hevland

June 2016

We participated in a couple of table events
recently, the Sears Friends and family event
at the Washington Square Sears store and the
Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce event at the
Shrine Center. Thanks to all who helped out.

The Club had a very good early parade season,
attending the parades in the Dalles and Newport.
See the photos below.

On the 14th of May we got our float ready of the
Starlight parade on June 4. Be sure to watch for us
on TV that night.

We are always on the lookout for more members,
especially nobles and their families who would
like to help us in promoting the Portland Hospital,
if you are interested feel free to contact our
President or Secretary as listed below.

May 2016

What a difference a year makes. Our first function
after having our organizational meeting was the
Starlight parade in June of 2015. We participated
in several parades and table events all in support
of the Portland Shriners Hospital for Children.

We got permission from the Potentate, IS Tom
Bland, to modify the “Flag Patrol” trailer.

Thanks to IS Greg Jenkins, who cut down the
sides and rewired the trailer so that we could put
chairs on it and have brake lights that worked.

We were able to borrow some banners from
the Hospital to hang temporarily to the sides
of the trailer and add some huge sunflowers,
complements of Noble Don Hayhurst , containing
photos of some of the Hospital patients, provided
by the Hospital Staff, Harlan Pine and Kay Ekeya.

This spring, after a donation by club member Tina
Burns, we purchased some white sheet metal
to cover the sides of the trailer. Then IS John
Nerski painted the entire trailer white. And the
final touch was added when the decals created
by “Signs Now” in Portland and paid for by the
Hospital were added.

We also added a carry banner to our parade
paraphernalia for this season.
The Club plans to participate in ten parades

The Club plans to participate in ten parades this year.

See the list below. All Shriners, their
spouses, or family members, as well as friends are
welcome to join the club at any of the parades. We
only ask that you contact one of the officers ahead
of time so that we don’t over-fill the trailer.

April 2016

The Hospital Support Club held our meeting
on Wednesday, February 24th, at 7 PM in the
Auditorium of the Shriners Hospital.

There were 17 members present.

Goodies were provided by some of our ladies.

We had a special presentation by Dr. Sakai of the
research department of the Hospital. She talked
about her discovery of the gene linked to Marfan’s
Syndrome.

We decided to participate in 11 parades this year.
They are as follows:

The Dalles April 23
Newport May 7
StarLight June 4
St Helens June 18
Tillamook June 25
Hillsboro July 4
Troutdale July 23
Newburg July 30
Baker City August 6
Albany Nov 11
Macy’s Nov 25

We welcome all Shriners and their families to join
us at any of the above parades. We only ask that
you contact one of the officers ahead of time so we
don’t over load the float.

Handouts for the parades were discussed and it
was decided to purchase 15,000 seed packets this
year at a cost of about $0.18 each. We will need to
have enough funds to cover the costs.

We are open to new members. If you already
belong to a unit or club you can still join us.
We have no dues and no set monthly meetings,
with fun events coming up -parades - especially
the Starlight- the Who Concert in May. Some
members helped at the hospital fundraiser
obstacle course “My Muddy Valentine” and the
next one is the “Grateful Dad” race on Father’s
Day.

If you would like more information about our club,
feel free to attend our February 24th meeting
at the Hospital, or contact our Secretary, IS
Bob Walliker, or our President, Rod Hevland, 503 649-5764

January 2016

The Hospital Support Club has been quietly
working on our float for this year’s parade season.
We’ve had a couple of wonderful donations that
have allowed us to purchase some white steel for
the sides of the float on which we will have some
hospital logo decals placed. We’ve also managed
to obtain a new Honda Generator along with
some rope lights in order to light the float for the
Starlight parade. Some bubble machines also have
be secured. Lastly we will have a banner that we
can carry in the front of our float with the Hospital
and club logos on it.

Thanks goes out to Kay Ekeya (Shriners Hospital
Portland), Tina Burns, the Walliker family and the
Hevland Family for their support!

We are also working on some training sessions
for our speakers bureau to be held at the Hospital
in the evenings. At the time that this was written
the planned dates were the fourth Wednesday in
January and February.

If you are interested in joining us, feel free
to contact our President, Rod Hevland at 503-649-5764.

2015

Noble Rod Hevland

December 2015

The Club held a celebration meeting on Nov. 4
at the Beer Station in Wilsonville. We had 30
members of the club in attendance along with
several members of the Divan. IS Rennie Johnson
said that the club was realizing our purpose
to re-connect the nobility with our hospital’s
mission. After a social of snacks and a free drink
on the club, there was a brief business meeting
where elections were held and the following
officers were elected; Rod Hevland, President;
Gary Thomas, Vice President; IS Bob Walliker,
Secretary-Treasurer; and IS Keith Christensen,
Speaker’s Bureau Chair.

We had at least one new member join our club
at the meeting and we are always open for new
members to assist us in our mission. Membership
is open to all nobles and others who are “friends of
Shriners”

Our dessert was a carrot cake with theme of
the seed packets that we handed out during the
parade season last summer.

Noble Rod Hevland

October 2015

Wow, what a summer for our new club. We
represented our Portland Hospital at two concerts,
five parades and several special events. We still
have opening for participants in the Veteran’s Day
Parade on November 11, in Albany. If you are
interested contact Rod Hevland or Bob Walliker by email below.

We will have a end of the year celebration on Nov
4 at the Beer Stop in Wilsonville, at 6:30 PM. If any
Noble, family members of a noble or friend of a
Shriner would like to attend, contact Rod Hevland or Bob Walliker by email below.

The Beer Station in Wilsonville sponsored
this year’s first Wilsonville’s Brewfest in my
neighborhood. Over 1,500 thirsty people came
to Villebois Plaza and enjoyed microbrews from
several local breweries.

The Station also serves wine, specialty ice tea
drinks, cider and craft sodas.

PS: they have family ties to one of our past
Potentates (sorry – not I, but you can ask me in
person).

Having Fun-Helping Kids

August 2015

Wow what a great reception we got from the
crowd during the Tillamook parade. We again
handed out seed packets with sunflower seeds in
them and information about or Hospital on the
back.

We could use some help on all three upcoming
parades; Newberg on July 25th, Baker City on
August 1st and Albany Veterans day on November
11th. If you would like to walk along with our float
and help hand out the sunflower seed packets
we could really use the assistance. Its great fun
and we’ve gotten really good feedback from the
crowds.

Remember that any noble, family member, Master
Mason or friend of a Shriner can join us.

In both Sheridan and Tillamook we had folks
come out of the crowd and thank us for helping
their child, wow what and upper!

We hope to have the trailer ready for the Newberg
parade at the end of July. That being said, we
would like someone who is going to Baker City to
tow the Trailer there and back. IS Bob and Kathy
Walliker, Rod and Sherry Hevland, and John and
Barb Wilde, are all taking our RV’s and can’t tow
the trailer. If you can help out please contact,
IS Bob Walliker or myself soon, so we can finalize
our plans.

The Speakers bureau part of our club, headed by
Noble Ron Eggers (rkeggers44@comcast.net) is
continuing to look of new member who would be
willing to assist the Hospital at public events. We
will offering some training in the near future. If
you are interested in helping, feel free to contact
Noble Ron.

Signed Eagles Guitar Benefits HospitalNoble Todd Weedman

July 2015

On May 28th the six time Grammy Award
winning rock band, the Eagles, performed at the
Matt Knight Arena in Eugene. 22 members of
the Hospital Support Club, friends and Nobles
participated in selling Eagles music CD’s; the
sales of which co-benefited the Shrine Hospital
and the Walden Woods Project; a nonprofit
organization committed to preserving the land,
literature, and legacy of Henry David, founded
by Eagles member Don Henley.

Each CD came with a raffle ticket to win a guitar
autographed by the Eagles, Steve Searles of
Lebanon was the lucky winner. Steve plays the
guitar and was so moved to have won that he
couldn’t bring himself to part with the guitar for
the rest of the evening.

In all 374 CD’s were sold, netting a $2437.19
benefit for the hospital. All participants were
rewarded with great seats to the concert. Great
job everyone.

A like fundraiser is coming September 25th
with the legendary band The Who. Contact Bob
Walliker or Todd Weedman to participate.

May 2015

In the past 3 years, 122 new nobles have joined Al
Kader. If you are among them, you know it can
be uncomfortable to “blend in” sometimes. Blue
lodges are different. They do not involve our
ladies in as many social events as Shriners do.

This club intends to change that feeling, creating
a group where our newest members and their
ladies have fun while supporting a common cause
(our hospital). We are different because we allow
non-shriners (“Friends of Shriners”) to belong,
so if you join, you are urged to bring a Lodge
Brother, or relative or neighbor, someone who is
as motivated as you to support our hospital.

While participating with the club in parades
and other events, if you decide to join a unit -no
problem. We will not kick you out. Temple rules
allow you belong to both – (or move on), it’s your
choice.

April 22 the “official beginning club kick-off social”
was held at Al Kader. If you missed it - we still
want you to join us.

Upcoming - Exciting Events:

Parades: our first big event is the Starlight parade
on May 30. Our hospital float has been accepted
by the Rose Festival Assn. We need helpers at the
hospital the week before constructing the float and
members at the parade for finishing touches and
participate as out-walkers along the route, then
after parade take down. This parade is televised
locally.

Concerts: The Kids Rock-It EAGLES tour! At
Matthew Knight Arena, Eugene, Thu 05/28/15.
Then on Fri 09/25/15 the WHO appears in
Portland, at the Moda Center. (both concerts are
fundraisers for our hospital). Shrine Members get
in free – must wear their fez and help.

Wow! - with More fun to come. Interested? Email
us at bobwalliker at gmail.com

Please attend to learn more about the new
Hospital Support Club. You are invited to a special
meeting at Shriner’s Center in Wilsonville. Ladies,
hospital staff, friends and patient’s parents are
welcome.

More to come about our exciting future plans
including possible participation in the
Rose Festival Starlight Parade May 30th and other
fantastic - fun events.

For more information call Noble Rod Hevland,
(503)-649-5764

Noble Rod Hevland

April 2015

Please attend to learn more about the new Hospital
Support Club. You are invited to a special meeting at
Shriner’s Center in Wilsonville. Ladies, hospital staff,
friends and patient’s parents are welcome.

More to come about our exciting future plans including
possible participation in the
Rose Festival Starlight Parade May 30th and other
fantastic - fun events.

For more information call Noble Rod Hevland,
(503)-649-5764.

Noble Rod Hevland and IS Bob Walliker

March 2015

We are very pleased to announce we have
permission from our Potentate and Divan to start
the Portland Shriners Hospital Support Club. We
welcome new members in the club.

Our Mission will be:
(1) To assist Al Kader Shrine Center to support our
Portland Hospital.
(2) To increase public awareness for the Portland
Shriners Hospital for Children.
(3) To participate in community parades, and other
community events involving the Hospital which are
pre-approved by Al Kader Shrine Center.
(4) To provide a Portland Hospital public relations
group of Nobles and ladies.
(5) To foster fun, camaraderie, and fraternalism
among our members, our ladies and (in particular),
our newest Nobles.

We hope as a result of these activities we will
recruit patients for the Portland Shriners Hospital
In light of that idea, we created a steering
committee, held a series of planning meetings,
wrote a set of By-Laws and started planning
activities.

Our first project will be to assist our hospital
Community Relations staff entering a lighted float
in the annual Rose Festival Starlight parade in June.
Future projects to be considered are building a
traveling float for other parades around the state
which will include riders (patients and families)
from the local area, a speaker’s bureau which would
assist our Hospital staff with public events and to
help man hospital screening and outreach clinics.
We would welcome any interested Nobles, hospital
staff, patients, family and friends, to join us in our
efforts.